Crayon sharpener



April 14, 1942.

o. L. cQ-ERYWIG 2,279,672

cRAYoN SHRPENER Y Filed oct. 25, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1` l INVENTOR.

, April 14, 1942-.

o. L.'GERW|G CRAYON SHARPENER Filed oct. 25, V1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patente-d Apr. 14, 1942 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in crayon Sharpeners and more particularly to a Sharpener for crayons of substantially rectangular cross section and made out of talcum or other similar material. Such crayons are used by layout men in structural steel plants, boiler shops and many others.

As is well known, crayons for the above mentioned purpose are marketed in the form of sticks 1/2 inch wide by ,3 6 inch thick and about 5 inches long and they must be sharpened by the user to a line tapered edge along the full width ofthe crayon. Heretofore this was accomplished by sharpening the crayons by hand on an abrasive surface, such as sand or emery paper, a le or other abrasive materials and since the crayons are made of talcum, an extremely soft material, it was very diicult to produce a long tapered sharp edge without breaking the same.

It is therefore one of the main objects of this invention to produce a crayon Sharpener which sharpens crayons to a long tapered edge with a minimum susceptibility to breakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crayon Sharpener which will produce a perfectly smooth and straight edge.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a Crayon Sharpener in which the abrasive material is not secured to or part of the rotatable discs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a crayon Sharpener with abrasive discs which may be renewed without completely taking the device apart.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple and substantial crayon Sharpener which requires a reduced number of parts and a minimum of maintenance care and which is at the same time of enhanced efciency and serviceability.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in the several views,

Figure l is a side view of the complete device.

Figure 2 is a top view of Figure. 1 with part of the cover removed.

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure l with part of the cover removed.

Figure 4 is a central cross-section of the device on line 4-4 in Figure 1 showing the shaft re- TENT OFFICE moved and one of the discs moved sidewise in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure showing one of the crayons inserted .between the abrasive discs and sharpened to a taper edge.

Figure 6 illustrates the shaft as used in invention. v

Figure 7 shows one of the crayons havingasingle tapered edge.

Figure 8 shows a crayon having a double taper edge.

Figure 9 is an end View of Figure 7 `or 8.

Figure 10 is a top view of theguide as used in this invention. y i

Figure 11 shows a developed View of the guide shown in Figure 10, before bending on dot and dash lines. l

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figuresl to 5 inclusive, the numeral 2li indicates a .casing vwhich maybe conveniently made of sheet metal or formed by die casting or otherwise.

this

23which is provided with screw. or bolt holes .24 for the reception of screws or bolts (not shown) by means of which the casing 29 may be mounted on a wallor desk or any other suitable place.

Referring now to Figure 4 in which is shown a sectional vview of the device with the shaft 25, which is shown detailed in Figure 6, removed. The side members y2| of said casing 20 are provided with horizontally aligned bearing bushings 23 welded to the inside face 21 and outside face 28 vof said side members 2|, as shown, in which are rotatably mounted the sleeves 29, one in each pair of bearing bushings 26. Each of said sleeves 29 is provided with a properlyls'paced circular flange 3|J,`dividing the former into the disc carrying end 3| andthe bearing end 32.

The discs v33 and 34, of wood, sheet metal or any other suitable material are provided with a central aperture 35 whichsnugly lits over the end 3| of said sleeves29and said discs are prevented from turning on said ends 3| by means of a screw through the lside face ,of the ange 39,-01` otherwise. The opposing inner faces 31, 38 of the discs 33, 34 respectively are beveled to a taper corresponding to the taper 39 of the guide 40, which, by the way, determines the taper of the sharpened crayon 4|, shown in Figures 8 and 9.

The disc 34, at-the operating handle end isheld from side-wise movement by the operating handle 42 which is attached to the bearing end 32 of said sleeve 29 by a set screw 43, or otherwise'.

The casing 29 comprises two side I members 2|,r a top member 22 and an end-bracket y The disc 33, including the: sleeve 29 on which the former is securely mounted, is slidably mounted in the bearing bushings 26, in order to permit the said disc to be moved outwardly in direction of arrow shown in Figure 4 when it is desired to replace the abrasive discs 44. It will be noted, that said abrasive discs 44 lay loosely between the discs 34 and 33 and are centrally supported by the shaft 25 which is shown detailed in Figure 6 of the drawings. The aforesaid shaft 25 comprises a rod 45 having securely attached at one end thereof a washer 46 while the other end is threaded as at 41 adapted to receive a wing nut 48.

Secured to the underside 49 of said top 22 of the casing 20 is a guide 4U, detailed in Figures 3, and 11, which may be of steel plate or other desirable material. This guide is shown as made in one piece in the shape of a U and bent along the dot and dash lines to form an angle of about ninety degrees, as best shown' in Figure 3. The prongs 5i) are tapered, as at 39, at an angle to conform with the bevel 5I of said discs 33 and 34, which corresponds to the desired taper of the sharpened crayon 4I.

The top 22 of said casing 20 is provided with a rectangular opening 52, preferably of the size of the crayon, through which the latter may be inserted for sharpening.

The open lower end 53 of said casing 20 may be closed up by means of a detachable cover 54 where talcum dust and dirt may be collected to be later removed at intervals.`

From the foregoing description of the parts used in this device the operation of the same will be very readily understood.

Assuming that the shaft 25 is inserted through the bearing bushings 26 with the washer 46 at the operating handle end and locked by the wing-nut 48. By doing this, the discs 33 and 34 are then so placed together that a V shaped space 55 is left between their peripheries which corresponds to the V shaped taper 39 of said guidefl. At this time attention is called to the fact that the abrasive discs 44 are not dished to conform to the bevel of the discs 33 and 34 but they are perfectly fiat before inserting and moreover they are'not cemented or otherwise secured to the discs. This fact is very important when considering the cost to produceabrasive discs 44 andalso considering the time it consumes for cleaning or replacement.

Bearing in mind that talcum crayons are very soft, the abrasive discsv should be cleaned often with a suitable brush or other Similar.. means.

In operation, it is only necessary to insert a crayon 4I through the rectangular opening 52 and between the depending prongs 50 of guide 4D. The operating crank or handle 42 is then turned which provides circular movement to the discs 33 and 34, and since the abrasive discs 44 are pinched together at the central fiat inner face 56 of said discs 33 and 34 the same will also receive circular movement. The crayon is slowly fed by the user and the sides of the same are consequently ground away by the abrasive surfaces of the abrasive discs 44.`

The cover 54 is removed when it is desired to empty the talcum dust collected and also when it is desired to clean the abrasive surfaces of the abrasive discs or to renew the same.

The said abrasive discs are cleaned or renewed by first removing the cover 54, unscrewing the wing-nut 48 from shaft 25. By removing said shaft 25, disc 33 may be moved outwardly after which the abrasive discs may be withdrawn.

After the abrasive discs have been cleaned or renewed the shaft 25 is again inserted as heretofore described and again locked by the wing-nut 48. The cover 54 may then be replaced by inserting the cover hook-end 5l into the casing hook-end 58 and snapping the same into posiconsidered to be the best embodiment thereoff it is to be understood the. various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A crayon Sharpener of the kind described comprising a casing provided with a pair of aligned bearing bushings; a pair of circular discs, each provided with a centrally disposed and outwardly extending sleeve adapted to rotate in one of said bearing` bushings, Said circular discs valso provided with a fruSto-conical inner face; a tierod extending through Said sleeves loosely Supporting a pair of opposing abrasive discs; means to tighten said tie-rod and means to simultaneously rotate all of said discs.

2. A crayon Sharpener of the kind described comprising a casing provided with a pair of aligned bearing bushings; a pair of circular discs, each provided. with a centrally disposed and outwardly extending sleeve adapted to rotate in one of said bearing bushings, said circular discs also provided with a frusto-conical inner face; one of said circular discs arranged for rotary motion and axial movement and the other one mounted for rotary motion only;V a tie-rod extending through said sleeves loosely supporting a pair of opposing abrasive discs; means to tighten said tie-rod and means to simultaneously rotate all of said discs.

3. A crayon Sharpener of the kind described comprising a casing providedY with a pair of aligned bearing bushings; a pair of circular discs, each provided with a centrally disposed and outwardly extending sleeve adapted to rotate in one of said bearing bushings, said circular discs also provided with a frusto-conical inner face; one of said circular discs arranged for rotary motion and axial movement and the other one mounted for rotary motion only; a tie-rod extending through said sleeves loosely supporting a pair of opposing abrasive discs; means to tighten said tie-rod thereby causing all of said discs to form a single operating member and means for rotating the1atter.

4. A crayon Sharpener of the kind described comprising a casing provided with a pair of aligned bearing bushings, each adapted to rotatably receive a circular disc having frustumshaped inner faces; one of said discs arranged for rotary motion and axial movement and the other one for rotary motion only; the frustoconical inner faces of said circular discs, when in operable position, providing a V-'Shaped space between their peripheral edges; a tie-rod extending through said circular discs loosely supporting a pair of opposing abrasive discs, each having an unsupported peripheral portion; means to tighten said tie-rod thereby causing all of said discs to be held together in frctional engagement to form a single rotatable operating member; a stationary bifurcated V-shaped guide inserted between said abrasive discs adapted to urge said unsupported peripheral portion of the latter against the frusto-conical inner faces of said circular discs; an opening in said housing to permit a crayon to be inserted between said bifurcated guide and means to simultaneously rotate al1 of said discs.

OSCAR L. GERWIG. 

